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On Sunday, a Franklinton Police Department lieutenant was en route to work when he observed a vehicle outside the town limits being driven in a reckless manner, according to Chief Criminal Deputy Mike Haley of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Haley said that the lieutenant called the information in to the WPSO and he and a Sheriff’s Office lieutenant encountered the suspect vehicle stopped at a gas station in Franklinton. The vehicle was identified as the one being driven in a reckless manner.

A computer check of the driver, Chad Thompson, 37, a resident of Tall Pine Drive in Franklinton, revealed he had an outstanding warrant through the 22nd Judicial District Court for violation of a protective order, Haley said. He was placed under arrest for that warrant.

Thompson then gave permission for officers to search his vehicle. A quantity of illegal drugs, a shotgun and drug paraphernalia were discovered, Haley said. Thompson was then transported to the Washington Parish Jail by another deputy who had arrived on the scene.

“While further checking the vehicle, officers discovered the license plate had been switched,” Haley said. “In addition, the vehicle was equipped with illegal blue headlights and the inspection sticker was fake. The vehicle was then towed by a local wrecker service.”

Thompson was booked into the Washington Parish Jail on charges of two counts of possession of illegal drugs, possession of illegal drugs with a weapon present, possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of a protective order, improper equipment on his vehicle, switched license plate, improper motor vehicle inspection sticker and traffic violations. His bond was set at $6,000.

“Thanks to an alert Franklinton Police Department lieutenant and a quick response from our deputies, a wanted man was removed from the streets of our parish,” Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said. “This was a good example of cooperation between two law enforcement agencies in our parish. That is the way it works. All parish law enforcement agencies have a common goal to protect our citizens, and we work together to make it happen.”